Man these people don't know when to quit. I'm sure everyone here is aware that dental cleanings are normally scheduled every 6 months. My dentist's staff makes it a point to call you to try and schedule you at that time if you don't make your appointment according to their rigid timeline. But, those motherf-ers don't stop there. They will keep calling your place of business even if you ask them to stop calling. They call me at every possible moment to try and get me to come in even when I say I will call you back when I want to make an appointment. I know it's a business but for CRYING OUT LOUD LEAVE ME THE ***** ALONE. IT'S ALMOST AS BAD AS HAVING TELEMARKETERS CALL YOUR HOUSE NON-STOP. DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL CALL THEM BACK....IT THEN BECOMES UP TO THAT PERSON TO SCHEDULE THEIR APPOINTMENT. So, after several calls after missing my 6 month appointment(which I take good care of my teeth and don't want to go to the dentist when THEY want me to go...only when I want to go), they still will not stop callilng. I'm a big boy...it's my responsibility to take care of my own teeth...if I'm a month or two late for coming in, then so be it. Their my teeth and my problem. But, these people continue to call. They called today again even though I told them to stop calling me at work. Here is the conversation: Dentist biyatch: Mr. Surfguy...I have an opening available in two hours today so you can come in today for your cleaning. Me: Umm....no....I can't. Dentist biyatch: Well, there is an opening today and I just thought you would like to get in and get your teeth cleaned. Me: (Internal Thought: YOU THOUGHT WRONG. WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME AGAIN?) No....not today. Dentist biyatch: How about we schedule you a future appointment to get your teeth cleaned? When are you available? Me: (Internal Thought: Listen...you Nazi dentist biyatch secretary...you need to quit calling me every few days trying to set up an appointment or I will find another dentist. I don't need this bullsh*t. Who the hell do you think you are?) I will check my work schedule and get back to you like I said before. Dentist biyatch: No you won't. Me: (Internal Thought: I can't believe this biyatch just said that to me. I have the right mind to go over there and knock her up side the head). YES...I WILL! Click. I can't stand these people. I know the dentist is back there telling them they need to fill these appointments but hounding their customers with continual phone calls. Give me a phucking break. Next time I go in for my appointment...I'm going to let them have it cause I'm fed up with their approach and the attitude I just got on the phone. End of rant.
I missed my last appointment and forgot to call and cancel and they sent me a bill for $19.00 for a no show. I`ll be sending that check in the mail real quick
Dude, send the check back with a letter that says if they want me to pay it, it'll be the last thing you pay to them because you'll be happy to find a new dentist.
The dentist's office I visited had a scumbag muhfuh doing their business dealings. I was a little wary when slickster comes to me explaining how much the bill would be (I'd let my cleanings go for awhile; dumb!), and then tries to sneak in these things that don't really belong there. Then he puts me on what seems to be Uncle Bobo's Payment Plan. You learn the hard way.
Great thread! It reminded me to finally make an appointment. It's been about 8 months since my last dental exam, so I just called and made an appointment. I don't have dental insurance so it's gonna run me about $170 with flouride . . . ugh!
You people go to the wrong dentist. Mine sets my appointment as soon as I'm finished getting my teeth cleaned. Then, six months later, they call to remind me. If I can't make that time, I just tell them so, and I don't hear from them again till I call them. If I miss an appointment, I don't get charged. One thing to remember...I have a family of five, so they get a ton of business from me. They better treat me right. [shameless plug] Dr. Celso Seretti, in CLear Lake [/shameless plug]
I TOTALLY AGREE! When I was 20, the dentist I had since I was a kid had the assistant call me to schedule a cleaning. At the time, my parents were getting divorced and I was in school and pretty much broke. The woman on the phone told me that she was certain my mother WOULD WANT me to get a cleaning and wasn't I worried about cavaties??? I told her, "Look, tell you what I'll do. If your office pays for my cleaning, I'll come in and get it done." She laughed. I said, "Seriously, because I'm broke and my parents are getting divorced. Unless you can pay for it, I'm not coming because I can't afford it!" She said, "Oh, I'm sorry." Click. Stupid.
This is embarassing, but I went to the dentist....damn....it's been about six months back....must be time again. Anyway, I had not gone for a cleaning in over four years. I just kept putting it off and putting it off. He took the x-rays and did the cleaning. Guess what? completely clean bill of health. No cavities, no deep scaling. Nothing. He told me I did a really good job of keeping my teeth clean. So, I guess I have three more years to go.
Surfguy, funny you brought this up, cause my dentist's office here in Austin called me this morning at about 10:30 AM. I stayed up till 4 last night studying, and that wake up call really pissed me off. I wanted to tell the beeyatch on the phone to f*ck off.
Pole: You aren't the only one. Extremely hard enamel runs in the family. My father didn't have a single cavity until he was almost 60 years old and he drank like a fish and did not take particularly good care of his teeth. I have the same luck. Now, I've had braces, wisdom teeth pulled, root canals (from teeth I broke in a "water slide accident" ), etc. So, I've had my share of dental work, but I've been fortunate to avoid cavities. -- knocking feverishly on wood --
I have good teeth in that regard as well. I have had two cavities and they were years ago. Capping your teeth helps and I had some caps put in a while back. I do brush regularly and brush longer than most so that helps. Flossing I either do consistently or I don't do at all. In fact, one of the reasons I find to put off cleanings is if I'm not doing my flossing because those peckerwoods at the dental office really let you have it and it can hurt badly if your gums are not up for it. So, I like to get consistent flossing in for 2-3 weeks to where there is no bleeding so my cleaning will go by smoothly. Flossing reminds me of working out...you either do it alot or don't do it enough...there is not really an in-between. I have known some people that never...and I mean....NEVER...floss. That can hurt you later in life and may require oral surgery. My Dad had to have gum surgery cause he didn't floss enough early in life. So, always try to floss. It's easy to blow it off but it will help you in the long run. Per this topic, if I ever need a third parent, then I know where to go. My old man had a "complex" when I was in high school. He didn't like not being in control of my homework and when I did it. So, he had a problem where he would always start crap and say "Do your homework!" over and over again. It got so bad we had to go to a psychologist. The psycher tried to get me to set up a timely schedule to do my nightly homework but I didn't go along with it because I wasn't the one with the problem.....he was. We had so many damn fights over that because my Dad is stubborn. So, when a damn dentist Nazi secretary biyatch calls me up and says "Schedule an appointment!" I immediately think of my Dad and how I had to struggle for independence on when I could do my own homework...or have my teeth cleaned. Is that not one of the stupidest things you ever heard? Thanks Dad for those great memories. Surf
I can't believe you put up with that from your dentist. I'd let it slide once, maybe twice. By the 3rd phone call I am sure I'd tell them I was getting a different dentist. Jeff, your story reminds me of my conversation with a credit card telemarketer who asked me if I wanted to consolidate my credit card debt with them. JV: You already have all my credit card debt [I only carry one card]. Him: Well, do you have other debts you might like to consolidate? JV: No, unless you want to take my $50,000 in student loan debt. Him: Sure, we can consolidate that! JV: [laughing] Ummm.... no.
